Never say never, but a solicitor that's receiving money directly from a client will have more skin in the game.
My VW Caravelle engine failed at 66,621 miles
- Thread starter abulliedpensioner
- Start date
abulliedpensioner
Member
Hi, yes we seem to have legal cover through our home insurance so might have to go down that route. I have today written my 3rd letter of complaint to VW. They did not even bother to reply or acknowledge the last letter. I have asked a couple of questions so I wonder if that is why VW have not responded? I have now informed VW that my husband has suffered some major health issues this year which meant he was not supposed to sit in a car for more than the 15 minutes it takes to drive from our house to Derriford Hospital. The nearest dealer to us is some 36 miles away with at least a 50 minute journey. This was a major consideration in using a local repairer. My husband's health issues are really none of VW's business and these issue have not been mentioned until now as we do not trust VW who we fear might try and use the information against us. I am minded to approach the BBC with these problems as treating a couple of pensioners, one of whom has serious medical issues, is pretty bad business? Should I approach Watchdog, Rip-off Britain or our local Spotlight team?
They're already told you to take it to the ombudsman if you're not happy, so theyre not going to risk saying anything that might now undermine their position. They will now just politely ignore you. Save the time and effort and channel it into a productive avenue of action.
If you're going to the next stage, dont mess about. Do it properly.
Gather your evidence, and as aforementioned in the thread, you are at a stalemate. If you cant make the van work then you require an independent engineers report - you need an impartial 3rd party to unpick the mess of a used ECU from one party, a data code from another party, and a third party trying to make it all work.
There is no shortcut, you need that evidence and it needs to be from an impartial source - your word, or the word of one of the three parties involved (ie, the garage youve taken it to), will not cut it. With three involved parties, one supplying a part, one supplying data, and one supplying labour, you need to establish beyond the balance of probabilities who is at fault. There is no legal way past that sticking point.
Once you have the evidence take some suitable legal advice. Messing about with various consumer TV shows just prolongs your agony while their priority is making a TV programme.
Sorry to hear of your husband, I hope this isn't weighing on him too heavily.
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abulliedpensioner
Member
I have been asked how reliable my T6 has been. It has proven to be the worst, most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned in 54 years of car ownership. It has proven to be more unreliable than our first joint car, a 1977 Austin Allegro. The Allegro when it broke down was at least easily repaired. Our Caravelle has been off the road since 19 September 2025... A truly miserable experience...
abulliedpensioner
Member
My husband, who has been seriously ill during this period, is the registered keeper, is organising to contact the ombudsman in the first instance.
abulliedpensioner
Member
Update on my unusable Caravelle. VW are refusing to supply our repairers with the correct codes to restart our vehicle? That is all that is left to restart... How petty is that? I have written to the BBC about this and all the other issues we have with VW. The ombudsman is also being contacted. The problems we are having with VW affect all owners as many of you look after your vehicles yourselves? WE will, if need be, use the legal option...
Why waste time on irrelevancies? Neither the BBC or the ombudsman are going to repair your van for you.
Either take it to someone who can finisdh the job (presumably a dealer would be able to access the necessary code), or take it to law. You're now a month on and no closer to a resolution.
Either take it to someone who can finisdh the job (presumably a dealer would be able to access the necessary code), or take it to law. You're now a month on and no closer to a resolution.
If you are thinking of using Legal Cover bought with insurance the underwriters will only agree to fund the case if there is a chance of making the recovery from the third party. There is also a funding limit, VW will have better lawyers and more money.
That "VW", ie, the importer, told the OP to go to the ombudsman if they don't like it suggests they feel very secure in their position. They wouldn't have said that without first checking with their in-house legal people.
I have every symathy with the OP, especially as her husband is poorly. However, none of this messing about with threats that dont materialise or speaking to the serial paedo employers at the Beeb will bring her an inch closer to getting the van back on the road.
I have every symathy with the OP, especially as her husband is poorly. However, none of this messing about with threats that dont materialise or speaking to the serial paedo employers at the Beeb will bring her an inch closer to getting the van back on the road.
And why would they supply the code?
Surely you will need the proof of ownership details for the second hand ecu.
Otherwise vw would be a party to supplying codes for nicked ecus .
Im not saying the replacement ecu is stolen , its from a breaker , but they not gonna supply a code to that vehicle.
They will of course supply the code to your original ecu , but das ist kaputten.
abulliedpensioner
Member
The used ECU was from a known provenance and on completion of the VW required paperwork was authorised to use, VW then supplied the codes. Unfortunately, they supplied the wrong code, which was noticed by the repairer and informed VW of the situation. VW response was it was "it will be alright to use". The ECU burnt out and a new one was purchased at a cost of approximately £2,500. The new ECU was fitted, VW paperwork completed and a new code issued. Yet again, our repairers noted an error (vin nos in wrong position) VW were informed and replied "it will be alright". This time the code scrambled 4 units. VW coding apologised but could help no further! The case was passed to VW engineering who laid the blame on the garage repairer for using used ECU? There was no mention of the 2 wrong codes from VW. VW engineering insisted that 4 new units were needed at approximate price of £10,000. My husband wrote to Mr U Makda, VW Customer Relations Manager - Executive Office and our repairers supplied Mr Makda with all the relevant data on the ECU problem. Mr Makda liased with relevant VW sections. VW engineer's stance has not altered, it had hardened, demanding vehemently, that new units were purchased. The VW solution was, still, renew the 4 units. Mr Makda formally closed the case and advised my husband to contact the Motor Ombudsman. Once VW knew a third party repairer was being used, the shutters literally came down. VW refuse to assist the repairer with the scrambled units and demanded new units be fitted. Estimated cost £10,000 - when VW faulty coding (twice) is the root cause of the scrambled units. This issue is easily resolved by using the ODIS system (that had previously been purchased by our repairers). VW have withdrawn the ODIS system from all 3rd party garages. VW now control the ODIS system, can charge what they like and bully customers into using their dealer network.
I am posting these updates as I wish to warn people of VW's behaviour. Our local VW dealership closed sometime ago. We would never have purchased the van had we known our nearest VW dealership would be in Exeter, some distance away. Our engine failed at 66,621 miles with an apparently well known design fault with the CXEB 2.0l TDI OPS 204. VW have not recalled this design fault, leaving owners to pick up the bill!
As I suggested earlier in this thread, speak to a solicitor that specialises in motor disputes. The initial consultation may well be free, but, even if it's not, it would seem to me to be a worthwhile investment to get an informed view on your legal position.
The Motor Ombudsman route will take years, literally, and with the BBC route you might, if you're lucky, end up with a 50% "goodwill" contribution, leaving VW looking generous and virtuous to joe public whilst still saddling you with a bill for £5k.
The Motor Ombudsman route will take years, literally, and with the BBC route you might, if you're lucky, end up with a 50% "goodwill" contribution, leaving VW looking generous and virtuous to joe public whilst still saddling you with a bill for £5k.
You need to clarify who you mean by "VW".
If you mean the importer, we already know. Indeed, most of us knew that before buying, so those with warranty are very careful not to give them a route out of a claim. We're under no illusion about what they can be like.
No one is going to fix your van other than a suitably qualified and equipped garage. Not the BBC, not the ombudsman, not Jesus, Mary or Joseph. Only. A. Garage. These wre nothing more than a diversion from the goal of having a functioning vehicle.
If you want it back on the road get it recovered to a garage that can do so - I can't understand why a month has passed and you've not acted to get it repaired. Indeed, if you'd got it recovered (you didnt need to drive it there)to a dealer in the first instance you might have a working van. Sure, you'd have been reamed over the cost, but youre facing a big bill now and still don't have a working van to show for it. Then, after the van is functioning again, is the time to go to the Beeb, the ombudsman, or court innthe hope of recovering some of the cost.
I would, respectfully, advise stop making threats and actually act. The more people that make threats and then do nothing, the harder it is for those that come after you who may genuinely be willing to go to law if necessary.
If you want the van working, then take the necessary steps to have it recovered to an establishment that can facilitate that. Then once thats sorted you can write to the Beeb, the Ombudsman, Dear Deidre, etc, until your hearts content.
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Op forget any contact with the ministry of propaganda (aka bbc)
Contact -book in & trailer ;your motor to Darren @woodhouse & Carmen …
abulliedpensioner
Member
We always pay our bills. We try never to borrow to purchase items. We use savings etc. If we can't afford something we go without. Our bills concerning our Caravelle have mounted to two-and-a-half years' of my state pension. I worked as a cleaner to buy enough years to collect it!
Our Caravelle has been the most expensive and unreliable vehicle my husband and I have ever owned. A total waste of money. As I have said before, it compares unfavourably with our 1977 Austin Allegro. Nobody buys Austin/British Leyland vehicles anymore. A business destroyed by its poor management, greed and rubbish products! Those in authority like to blame the unions and regulation when in fact if a business is run properly none of these things are really a problem.
VW support is a joke using past and I assume future customers as 'cash-cows'! Somebody should point out to them cow defecate, urinate where they want and are inclined to stampede. This 73 year old 'cash-cow' is not going to be bullied.
Question: Why should it be a good idea to buy genuine VW parts when the first bits installed have proven to be so badly engineered? Engine failure after 66,621 miles is not good. So who in their right mind would want to purchase more of the same? In 54 years of car ownership I've never understood this. When my last washing machine failed after four-and-a-half years I did not replace it with the same make?
Our Caravelle has been the most expensive and unreliable vehicle my husband and I have ever owned. A total waste of money. As I have said before, it compares unfavourably with our 1977 Austin Allegro. Nobody buys Austin/British Leyland vehicles anymore. A business destroyed by its poor management, greed and rubbish products! Those in authority like to blame the unions and regulation when in fact if a business is run properly none of these things are really a problem.
VW support is a joke using past and I assume future customers as 'cash-cows'! Somebody should point out to them cow defecate, urinate where they want and are inclined to stampede. This 73 year old 'cash-cow' is not going to be bullied.
Question: Why should it be a good idea to buy genuine VW parts when the first bits installed have proven to be so badly engineered? Engine failure after 66,621 miles is not good. So who in their right mind would want to purchase more of the same? In 54 years of car ownership I've never understood this. When my last washing machine failed after four-and-a-half years I did not replace it with the same make?
Part number revisions back up this claim. Take the back EGR pipe as one example. Todays cast is totally different to the original.
Problem is pattern parts often copy these design flaws although some do improve the design. The gates aux belt is a fine example.
So we're in a no win situation in the majority of cases but the irony is that sometimes it is better to get the VW part that's the latest revision.
What a nightmare ... so this is the bi turbo one that self destructs I assume?
abulliedpensioner
Member
Thanks, Howzat, like your logic and it's given my husband and I a smile...
StratosFearXX's query as to the bi turbo one that self destructs. It's a CXEB engine installed in 2018. To date the garage have not informed us of any turbo issues but thanks for the warning. Fingers crossed that nothing else fails prematurely?
StratosFearXX's query as to the bi turbo one that self destructs. It's a CXEB engine installed in 2018. To date the garage have not informed us of any turbo issues but thanks for the warning. Fingers crossed that nothing else fails prematurely?
